| My son just took a job teaching high-school English in | | | | And teachers come in a variety of forms, often |
| St Louis (hi, Ben) and my sister-in-law teaches at-risk | | | | disguised. My fencing instructor taught me that, no |
| kids in Indianapolis (hi, Carol), and that started thinking | | | | matter how much I practiced, I didn't have the reflex |
| me thinking about the role of teachers in my life and in | | | | speed to compete at the Varsity level, and that I |
| our societies, so it seemed only fair to write down my | | | | should be content with that because now I knew one |
| admiration for them and their effect on kids. | | | | of the limits of my body. I've never been in the Army, |
| Try this experiment for me: without thinking, write | | | | but my impression is that Drill Instructors teach more |
| down the five people who have most influenced your | | | | than basic combat skills: they teach the art of getting |
| life. I'll bet that at least one, and more likely two of them | | | | along with your squadmates, whoever they are; and to |
| were teachers of one sort or another. My own leading | | | | take pride in your appearance and the cleanliness of |
| teacher is the guy who taught me Shakespeare with | | | | your gear; and to never, ever give up. My Dad was a |
| dedication and passion and the determination that we | | | | professor of history at UNC (hi, Dad), and along with |
| should understand what the Bard was trying to tell us | | | | dates and battles he taught his students that the Truth |
| deep in our bones. (hi, Dr. Krueger) What do teachers | | | | is precious and has to be protected from Marxists, |
| really teach kids, beyond Reading, Writing and | | | | Relativists, and other -ists who want to twist it to their |
| 'Rithmatic? | | | | own ends. |
| - There are rules to follow for the good of the class, | | | | Of course, there are lousy teachers out there: ones |
| benefits if you follow them, and sanctions if you don't. | | | | who don't care about the students, or who have |
| - Someone expects you to do the best you can at | | | | retired on the job, or just enjoy the power over the |
| every challenge, won't stop until you have done your | | | | students. You get bad apples in every bushel, and we |
| best, and is proud of you when you do. | | | | should find a way of identifying them and getting them |
| - Mastering an impossible task is just a matter of | | | | out of the classroom and into some job where they |
| breaking it down into little tasks and mastering those - | | | | won't deprive the students. |
| and anyone can do that to some degree. | | | | Life is upside-down in many ways. Back when I was a |
| - Some people are smarter than others, and some | | | | software engineer, I made at least three times the |
| people are stronger than others, and some people are | | | | salary of local teachers, but I'd say I contributed about |
| more beautiful than others, and it's all okay. | | | | a third as much to society as any good teacher. In a |
| - There is someone in the world who looks forward to | | | | just world, they would have been getting the big |
| seeing you every day. | | | | paychecks because they worked harder than I did and |
| What great lessons for kids! (And for adults too, if it | | | | made more of a contribution. Someday maybe we'll |
| comes to that.) These are the basic skills that you | | | | come to our senses and start paying teachers what |
| need to get along in society and they are at least as | | | | they're worth. |
| important as the Pythagorean theorem. | | | | |